I was merely pointing out that there is a difference between a handful of metallic mercury and its compounds, especially organic. A number on FR seem to think if the one is OK, then mercury is not dangerous at all.
“Minamata disease” (methylmercury poisoning) killed a couple thousand in Japan and left a bunch messed up.
Neither over-hyping nor under-hyping the danger of mercury is a good idea.
The Feds trying to make a big fuss about Mercury is not about the element, it is about Glenn Beck’s company, LOL.
“Neither over-hyping nor under-hyping the danger of mercury is a good idea.”
Agreed. Mercury is only really dangerous in its organic (tied to carbon) forms. Too much hype for or against something is not a good thing.
You are right to point out is was a poisoning. Methyl mercury was being dumped in HUGE amounts into the waters of Minamata, Japan, from industrial processes.
The Minamata disease/hypothesis needs further testing. I personally do not believe that methylmercury was the cause of the deaths and deformaties we are seeing. MeHg is supposed to be a neurotoxin right? Why are we seeing deformities. This points to other organics that I know were found in the waters in Minamata.
Cyanide was also found in the waters and fish. The list of organics is very long. I will post it later.